The ECON ASSIST button allows the driver to automatically pull maximum fuel efficiency out of the car by pushing a button to throttle the gas and air conditioning.

It’s inconceivable that an automaker could advance 10 years in automotive technology and build a car with half the fuel mileage of its predecessor, unless it were a radically different car. Well, it turns out that the new Insight, reintroduced in 2010, is a radically different design. The first Insights were two-seaters with a long shallow hatchback trunk, no air conditioning, and bodies made out of super-light materials to save weight. Everything that could be done to save fuel was done to these early cars. But Honda wanted to bring back a car that would have more mass appeal to consumers, so the two-seater became a family-friendly 5-seater, the air conditioning was added back in, and the car got more power to please the new buyers that weren’t part of the hypermiler set. Honda offset these weighty additions with modern fuel-saving technologies such as the car’s ECON ASSIST button that throttles the gas and modifies the air conditioning and other systems to automatically maximize fuel efficiency. The Insight also now has a start-stop feature that puts it in EV mode when at a full stop, and the body uses Honda’s latest weight-saving techniques and aerodynamics.

Still, with average driving and using the ECON ASSIST button only about 70% of the time, we averaged 40 miles per gallon, exactly what the new Insight is rated for. It’s not bad fuel economy, but we still had hoped for better from a car that feels somewhat underpowered. We were ready to gripe about the fact that we used a half tank of gas with just one week of driving, until we filled up for a paltry $16.50 and discovered the Insight’s gas tank is Chevy Volt-sized, at just 8 gallons. Even driving the Insight carelessly and impatiently for 175 miles, we still only used 4.4 gallons of gas. That’s not bad, really. The hypermilers could do much better. So, after a week of living with the little Insight, we finally fell in love with it, or at least in like. It offers navigation, satellite radio, air conditioning, 5 seats, and a spacious trunk and still manages to be reasonably efficient. Plus, the Insight is not only a radically different design from the original: it is a radically different price, too. The 2011 Honda Insight currently retails for a starting price of $18,200-$23,265, which puts it at half the cost of an equivalent plug-in Prius or Chevy Volt. Now that’s eco and frugal, something we love very much indeed.

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11 Comments

BracketsDecember 15, 2014 at 5:20 am

To Driverz bellow. The 325E on Fuelly across aprox 15 vehicles in real life figures got 22mpg US, Super beetle is quoted on Fuelly at 23 MPG, these figures are real data from real drivers, so considering the Insight probably weighs 50% more than a VW beetle with Aircon , Air bags, comfort, quiet etc etc, I think 40 to 60 mpg is a BIG step forward.

Robina NasserSeptember 12, 2013 at 11:08 pm

I still dont understand all I want to know is when to use the econ button, what does it mean when econ sign shows up and when it does not show up.

Auto iLeadApril 10, 2012 at 9:46 am

Kentercat, you stated’ “We are being conned big time by Auto manufacturers about their new, high priced, fuel efficient automobiles.” At one time, I believed your point to be true. However, today I am placing more blame on our government. For years, the standards for emissions have changed. All cars must burn cleaner and reduce emission levels. This clean burn comes at a cost. Every time the government changes the standards, the cars lose mpg. In many cases, any gains made by technology have been cancelled out by the restrictions of Washington. I do not design cars, but this is how I see it. To me, the auto industry has worked very hard to stay ahead of the real terrorist, Washington DC.

semibreve42October 16, 2011 at 9:10 pm

@Fatherfigure and driverz – Those 20 year old cars also didn’t have ABS, TPMS, traction control, 6 airbags or crumple zones. Neither was it’s exhaust as tightly regulated as car’s are today.

Not that I’m complaining – I’ll take the safely features any day, since either way I have to share the road with tractor-trailers and plow trucks, not to mention all the SUV’s and light trucks.

Basically, apples and oranges.

semibreve42October 16, 2011 at 9:05 pm

@Kentercat
The CR-Z actually has a more powerful internal combustion engine as the insight, its just the hybrid portion that they share. That’s why the CR-Z gets worse mileage. Also, the manual version is a 6 speed, not a 5 speed

My average for the past 7000 miles in my CR-Z has been 43.2mpg, and I almost never put it in eco mode, just normal or sport.

driverzSeptember 27, 2011 at 3:30 pm

I strongly agree with Fatherfigure’s comment! We are being conned big time by Auto manufacturers about their new, high priced, fuel efficient automobiles. I drove a 1986 BME 325E with a six cylinder engine for 10 years and averaged 31mpg highway mileage without the gadgets and hype. My 1973 Super Beetle cost $2400.00 and produced 35mpg highway for eleven years. The 1953 Nash Rambler Metropolitan produced 35mpg for a lot less money. I realize there are air pollution standards to meet, but how can these Auto manufacturers act like they are doing us a favor at $25,000.00 – $60,000 per vehicle.

FatherfigureSeptember 26, 2011 at 1:08 pm

My 1993 Honda Civic 4 door sat 5 and got 46mpg with over 200,000 miles on the odometer. It had air and all the other amenities so please don’t act like 40 mpg is anything to report unless you are mentioning it in disgust.

KentercatSeptember 26, 2011 at 11:50 am

My 2011 Insight averages 45 MPG. The Econ button generally stays on unless A) I’m pulling away from work, it’s 100 degrees outside, and the air conditioner/engine keep shutting down at every stoplight, or B) I’m really pressed to merge into traffic.
If you miss the old Insight, check out the CR-Z. It’s basically the same power-train as the new Insight but shoved into a two-seater. Despite the smaller size/same power train, it’s less efficient, because it’s designed as a sport hybrid. I would ask an actual owner, though, how it runs in econ mode. It also comes in a five speed, wereas the Insight is CVT.
There is a multi-function display that can either give you real-time mileage or optimal braking/acceleration feedback, making hypermiling a fairly minimal effort activity. It also scores the last five drives as a bar graph. The Insight is as good a tool for saving gas as the Wii Fit is for dieting and exercise.
Insight is 80-85 percent of a Prius (mileage-wise) with more masculine styling and $8000 cheaper. If you intend to keep the car more than 5 years, or gas prices hit $5 in the next three years, the Prius may pay for itself.

Max MilesSeptember 22, 2011 at 9:27 pm

I own a 2011 Honda Insight and routinely achieve 55 – 60 mpg in highway driving. Mileage for city driving is around 42 mpg. It is an excellent car.

caemanSeptember 22, 2011 at 9:52 am

40 MPG does seem a little…meh. But for a sedan is supposed to be able to seat 5, that is better than 10 years ago.

InsightmanSeptember 22, 2011 at 9:30 am

My 2000 Insight (#221) had air conditioning. My 2001 Insight used to get, and my 2006 Insight gets, 70 mpg regularly–on long trips I can easily exceed 80 mpg. Honda should offer a more expensive model of the new Insight with the fancier, more fuel-efficient engine from the Civic Hybrid for those who prefer to pay up front to save on fuel costs later (and to top the Prius).